Method of and apparatus for finishing sliding clasp fasteners

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for the production of individual product lengths of slide fastener from a continuous chain thereof, said apparatus including means frictionally feeding the chain, means applying end stops to the same and cutting it to a desired length and chain guiding means interposed adjacently between the first and second mentioned means.

United States Patent [1 1 Douri Mar. 25, 1975 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING SLIDING CLASP FASTENERS Inventor: Hisashi Douri, Uozu, Japan Yoshida Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, Japan Filed: July 25, 1973 Appl. No.: 382,455

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data July 28, 1972 Japan 47-76261 US. Cl. 29/408, 29/207.5 ST Int. Cl. B23p 11/00, 823p 19/04 Field of Search 29/408, 207.5 ST, 207.5 R,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Kiessling 29/408 3,689,980 9/1972 Oyama 29/207.5 ST

Primary E.\'aminer--Thomas H. Eager Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert E. Burns; Emmanuel J. Lobato; Bruce L. Adams [57] ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for the production of individual product lengths of slide fastener from a continuous chain thereof, said apparatus including means frictionally feeding the chain, means applying end stops to the same and cutting it to a desired length and chain guiding means interposed adjacently between the first and second mentioned means.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING SLIDING CLASP FASTENERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method of an apparatus for finishing sliding clasp fasteners and more particularly to such method and apparatus which is designed to apply end stops to and cut a slide fastener chain of continuous length into individual product lengths.

In the production of individual lengths of slide fasteners from a continuous length chain thereof, it has been the conventional practice to remove a group of fastener elements at predetermined intervals thereby providing element-free gaps on the fastener chain, apply bottom end stops to endmost elements adjacent one end of each element-free gap, and subsequently cut the fastener chain at a midpart of the gap to produce desired individual lengths of fastener. Thereafter, the fastener is finished by assembling thereon a slider and a top atop.

Following the recent trend of massive production of ready-made or semi-finished garments such as trousers and similar articles, the garment manufacturers prefer to purchase a continuous lengthchain, instead of measured individual lengths, of slide fastener and cut the chain to desired product lengths at their end. Then, they assemble the fasteners with sliders and end stops in the course of sewing or otherwise attaching the fasteners to garments and the like. This practice is advantageous in that the manufacturers can freely select the cutting lengths of fasteners to suit their particular application and further in that they can dispense with added process of forming element-free gaps or attaching top end stops beforehand depending upon the nature of garments, thus offering a saving in the manufacturing costs.

However, despite the increasing demand for processes and apparatus which will carry out the above garment-manufacturers practice with reasonable efficiency, many difficulties have been experienced in automating the same. The most critical problem has been with the technical steps required to feed the fastener chain exactly for a desired selected distance and stop the same precisely at a predetermined point of the assembling station in the absence ofelement-free gaps" which would serve as a target for detecting or determining the precise position in which the fastener chain is assembled with bottom end stops and cut to measured individual lengths. Another thing is that it has been difficult to feed the ensuing fastener chain to the assembling station after the preceding chain has been assembled and separated. Prior to the present invention, no processes or apparatus have been proposed which can overcome the above difficulties and accomplish the fastener finishing operation automatically and efficiently as desired by the garment manufacturers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Whereas, it is the primary object of the invention to provide novel process and apparatus which will render it possible to manufacture selected lengths of slide fasteners attached with bottom end stops from a continuous length fastener chain in an automatic cycle of operation and with a maximum rate of production.

It is another object of the invention to provide a fastener finishing apparatus which is relatively compact, simple in construction and highly reliable in operation.

LII

These and other more specific objects and features of the invention will appear clear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a guiding means for guiding the movement of the fastener chain.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings and FIG. 1 in particular, there is shown a continuous length fastener chain F which comprises a pair of opposed stringer tapes T,T each carrying along their respective longitudinal edges a row of fastener elements E, the stringer tapes being coupled together through the medium of the fastener elements E' which have been meshed with one another. The fastener chain F is not provided with pre-formed element-free gaps or spaces which are utilized as a target for cutting the chain to measured lengths according to the conventional practice.

Briefly stated, the invention is directed to the provision of measured lengths of sliding clasp fastener units having bottom end stops from a continuous fastener chain comprised of a pair of opposed stringer tapes carrying along their respective longitudinal edges two rows of continuously meshed fastener elements, and the pro cess comtemplated herein comprises holding the fastener chain closely adjacent the longitudinal edges of its stringer tapes along which the rows of fastener elements are secured, feeding the fastener chain intermittently in a horizontal path of movement for a distance corresponding to a selected length of an individual product fastener, discontinuing the feeding of the fastener chain, applying a bottom end stop to the fastener chain adjacent a leading end thereof, cutting the fastener chain at a point forwardly beyond said bottom end stop, and withdrawing the thus cut fastener chain.

A preferred form of apparatus which is employed to carry the above process into practice is shown in FIG. 2, and this apparatus designated at 10 generally comprises a feeding means 11 for feeding the fastener chain F intermittently in a horizontal path of movement, a guiding means 12 for guiding the movement of the fastener chain F, a bottom-end stop applying means 13 for applying bottom end stops to the fastener chain, a cutting means 14 for cutting the fastener chain into individual measured lengths, and a withdrawal means 15 for withdrawing the cut-off fastener chain.

The feeding means 11 comprises a pair of rollers 16 and 17 arranged in vertically opposed relation such that the fastener chain F is engaged between the peripheries of the two rollers and frictionally driven thereby in a horizontal direction toward an assembling and cutting station later described. The lower roller 16 is a drive roller connected to a motor not shown and also to a pulse wheel 18 through a suitable gear arrangement not shown. The amount of each intermittent cycle of rotary movement of the drive roller 16 which determines the length of individual product fasteners to be produced from the chain F is pre-set by a suitable electronic control device such as a digital counter not shown which is electrically connected to a non-contact switch formed by the pulse wheel 18 and a proximity switch electrically connected therewith 19, the arrangement being that completion of each selected intermittent cycle of revolution of the drive roller 16 is sensed by the noncontact switch whereupon a signal is produced to deenergize a clutch device through relays to stop the roller 16 for a predetermined time interval during which the chain F is assembled with a bottom end stop and cut to a measured length as hereinafter described. Such control mechanism is known and does not constitute any positive part of the invention; therefore, no further explanation relative thereto will be required.

The upper roller 17 is an idling guide roller which is provided around its peripherywith a continuous circumferential recess 20 dimensioned to accommodate the two coupled rows of fastener elements E as shown in FIG. 3. The recess 20 is defined by relatively narrow opposite circumferential ribs 21,21 having abutting faces 21a,21a disposed astride of the fastener elements E and adapted to hold the stringer T,T close thereat against the periphery of the drive roller 16. This structural feature of the guide roller 17 ensures that the fastener chain F is fed and guided straight with a minimum of stresses tending to bias the direction of its movement.

The guided movement of the fastener chain F is further improved by the guiding means 12 better shown in FIG. 4 which comprises an elongated panel 22,.having longitudinal side flanges 23,23 defining therebetween a wide guide channel 25 providing an unresitricted passage for the stringer tapes T,T and opposed parallel guide rails 24,24 defining therebetween a narrow guide channel 26 dimensioned to conform substantially with the width of the two interengaged rows of elements E such that the inner walls 24a,24a of the respective rails 24,24 are disposed in sliding engagement with the rear portions Ea of the elements E thereby permitting the fastener chain F to advance along a straight line of path without swerving sidewise.

The guide panel 22 has a width; viz. a distance between the side flanges 23,23 greater than the width of the fastener chain F, and the guide rails 24,24 have their lower ends 2412,2411 disposed short of the surface of the chain F, with no other parts of the panel 22 coming into the path of the fastener chain F so that the latter is freely advanced while being guided by the rails 24,24.

Designated at 27 is a supporting bed having a smooth sliding surface 27a on which the fastener chain F is laid flat and move slidably as it is fed by the feeding means 11.

Closely adjacent to the other end of the guiding means 12 or guide panel 22, there is provided an assembling and cutting station including a bottom end applying means 13 comprising a vertically reciprocable punch 28 mounted in the upper frame and normally retracted above the path of the fastener chain F and a clamping die 29 fixedly mounted in the supporting bed 27. This punch and die arrangement is conventional and applies a bottom end stop P to the fastener chain F at a predetermined position. The punch 28 for instance may include a means of cutting a continuous length strip of blank metal into individual pieces of staple-like form or may be arranged simply to receive preformed staple-like stop members from a separate source.

Substantially simultaneously as the fastener chain F is assembled with the end stop P, it is cut by the cutting means 14 included in the said station which is located forwardly of the end stop applying means 13 and which comprises a vertically reciprocable cutter 31 mounted in the upper frame 30 and a coacting stationary cutter 32 provided in the supporting bed 27. This cutter arrangement is also conventional and cuts the fastener chain F transversely across adjacent to the assembled end stop P as at the thickened solid line in FIG. 1.

There is provided a spring-loaded pressure pad 33 accommodated in the supporting bed 27 and normally facing in registry with the path of the fastener chain F. During the cutting operation, the pressure pad 33 is depressed by the punch 28 and lowered below the path of the fastener chain F. With the retraction of the punch 28, the pressure pad 33 is returned by the action of the spring 34 to a level flush with the path of the chain F thereby maintaining normal straight posture of the chain F to permit the same to be taken up without fail by a withdrawing means 15 hereinafter described.

The withdrawing means 15 is provided for withdrawing the preceding unit of the fastener which has been assembled and cut from the continuous ensuing fastener chain F, which means comprises a pair of rollers 35 and 36 between which the cut-off fastener is frictionally engaged and thereby withdrawn for collection for example in a suitable basket. The drive roller 35 is preferably connected by a drive belt not shown to the drive roller 16 at the feeding end, so as to synchronize the rotation of these rollers.

The apparatus described and shown is built relatively compact, requiring a minimum of floor space. In addition, it is to be noted that the feeding means 11 is located immediately adjacent to the inlet of the guiding means 12 so that the fastener chain F is readily guided without derailing from the straight horizontal path of movement, and that the end stop applying means 13 and cutting means 14 are located immediately adjacent to the outlet of the guiding means 12 so as to allow the respective operations to take place with a maximum accuracy.

Advantageously, the length to which each individual fastener is to be cut from its chain F can be varied at will simply by regulating the amount of revolution of the feed drive roller 16 with its associated controls.

What is claimed is:

1. 1n the production of measured lengths of sliding clasp fastener units having bottom end stops from a continuous fastener chain comprised of a pair of opposed stringer tapes carrying along their respective longitudinal edges two rows of continuously meshed fastener elements, an improved process which comprises holding the fastener chain closely adjacent the longitudinal edges of its stringer tapes along which the rows of fastener elements are secured, feeding the fastener chain intermittently in a horizontal path of movement for a distance corresponding to a selected length of an individual product fastener, discontinuing the feeding of the fastener chain, applying a bottom end stop to the fastener chain adjacent a leading end thereof, and cutting the fastener chain at a point forwardly beyond said bottom end stop.

2. In the production of measured lengths of sliding clasp fastener units having bottom end stops from a continuous fastener chain comprised of a pair of opposed stringer tapes carrying along their respective longitudinal edges two rows ofv continuously meshed fastener elements, an improved apparatus which comprises in combination;

a feeding means comprising a drive roller and an idling guide roller arranged in vertically opposed relation for driving frictionally therebetween the fastener chain intermittently for a predetermined distance in a'horizontal direction, said guide roller having opposite circumferential ribs disposed astride of the two coupled rows of fastener elements and adapted to hold the stringer tapes against the periphery of said guide roller and a continuous circumferential recess defined between said ribs and dimensioned to accommodate said coupled rows of elements;

a guiding means located at one end immediately adjacent said feeding means and comprising an elongatedpanel having opposed parallel guide rails defining therebetween a guide channel dimensioned to conform substantially with the width of said coupled rows of fastener elements; 7 bottom end stop applying means located immediately adjacent to the other end of said guiding means and comprising a vertically reciprocable punch and a stationary clamping die cooperating therewith for applying bottom end stops to said fastener chain; and

a cutting means located forwardly of said bottom end stop applying means and comprising a vertically reciprocable cutter and a coacting stationary cutter for cutting said fastener chain assembled with bottom end stops to measured individual lengths.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 which further includes a withdrawing means comprising a pair of rollers arranged in vertically opposed relation for withdrawing therebetween said fastener chain which has been assembled and cut to a measured individual length.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein one of said rollers is connected in driven relation to said drive roller of said feeding means.

S. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 further comprising; a pulse wheel, means connecting said drive roller to said pulse wheel for rotating said pulse wheel in synchronism with said drive roller, and a proximity switch coactive with said pulse wheel for sensing rotation of said pulse wheel.

6. In combination:

a. means for advancing a pair of stringer tapes in a longitudinal direction of said tapes for selected distances while said tapes are in a joined condition joined by interengaged fastener elements disposed along a pair of adjacent parallel longitudinal edges of said tapes;

b. means for guiding said pair of joined tapes in a direction of advance longitudinal of said tapes;

0. a die disposed along the direction of advance of said pair of jointed tapes;

d. a punch actuatable to engage said die for affixing bottom end stops to said pair of joined tapes; and

e. means for cutting a selected length of joined tapes, having a bottom stop affixed thereto, from said pair ofjoined tapes after a bottom end stop has been affixed to said pair of joined tapes.

7. In a combination according to claim 6 further comprising means for withdrawing from said cutting means the selected length ofjoined tapes having a bottom stop affixed thereto.

8. In a combination according to claim 7 wherein said withdrawing means comprises a pair of adjacent rollers and means for driving one of the rollers.

9. In a combination according to claim 6 wherein said means for advancing a pair of stringer tapes comprises:

a, a drive roller; and

b. a guide roller disposed adjacent said drive roller and having a pair of spaced circumferential portions defining a fastener element clearance space therebetween.

10. In a combination according to claim 6 wherein said means for guiding said pair of joined tapes comprises a guide member having means defining a guide channel extending along the direction of advance of said pair ofjoined tapes and dimensioned to receive the interengaged fastener elements disposed on said tapes to guide the direction of advance of said pair of joined tapes. 

1. In the production of measured lengths of sliding clasp fastener units having bottom end stops from a continuous fastener chain comprised of a pair of opposed stringer tapes carrying along their respective longitudinal edges two rows of continuously meshed fastener elements, an improved process which comprises holding the fastener chain closely adjacent the longitudinal edges of its stringer tapes along which the rows of fastener elements are secured, feeding the fastener chain intermittently in a horizontal path of movement for a distance corresponding to a selected length of an individual product fastener, discontinuing the feeding of the fastener chain, applying a bottom end stop to the fastener chain adjacent a leading end thereof, and cutting the fastener chain at a point forwardly beyond said bottom end stop.
 2. In the production of measured lengths of sliding clasp fastener units having bottom end stops from a continuous fastener chain comprised of a pair of opposed stringer tapes carrying along their respective longitudinal edges two rows of continuously meshed fastener elements, an improved apparatus which comprises in combination; a feeding means comprising a drive roller and an idling guide roller arranged in vertically opposed relation for driving frictionally therebetween the fastener chain intermittently for a predetermined distance in a horizontal direction, said guide roller having opposite circumferential ribs disposed astride of the two coupled rows of fastener elements and adapted to hold the stringer tapes against the periphery of said guide roller and a continuous circumferential recess defined between said ribs and dimensioned to accommodate said coupled rows of elements; a guiding means located at one end immediately adjacent said feeding means and comprising an elongated panel having opposed parallel guide rails defining therebetween a guide channel dimensioned to conform substantially with the width of said coupled rows of fastener elements; a bottom end stop applying means located immediately adjacent to the other end of said guiding means and comprising a vertically reciprocable punch and a stationary clamping die cooperating therewith for applying bottom end stops to said fastener chain; and a cUtting means located forwardly of said bottom end stop applying means and comprising a vertically reciprocable cutter and a coacting stationary cutter for cutting said fastener chain assembled with bottom end stops to measured individual lengths.
 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 which further includes a withdrawing means comprising a pair of rollers arranged in vertically opposed relation for withdrawing therebetween said fastener chain which has been assembled and cut to a measured individual length.
 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein one of said rollers is connected in driven relation to said drive roller of said feeding means.
 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 further comprising; a pulse wheel, means connecting said drive roller to said pulse wheel for rotating said pulse wheel in synchronism with said drive roller, and a proximity switch coactive with said pulse wheel for sensing rotation of said pulse wheel.
 6. In combination: a. means for advancing a pair of stringer tapes in a longitudinal direction of said tapes for selected distances while said tapes are in a joined condition joined by interengaged fastener elements disposed along a pair of adjacent parallel longitudinal edges of said tapes; b. means for guiding said pair of joined tapes in a direction of advance longitudinal of said tapes; c. a die disposed along the direction of advance of said pair of jointed tapes; d. a punch actuatable to engage said die for affixing bottom end stops to said pair of joined tapes; and e. means for cutting a selected length of joined tapes, having a bottom stop affixed thereto, from said pair of joined tapes after a bottom end stop has been affixed to said pair of joined tapes.
 7. In a combination according to claim 6 further comprising means for withdrawing from said cutting means the selected length of joined tapes having a bottom stop affixed thereto.
 8. In a combination according to claim 7 wherein said withdrawing means comprises a pair of adjacent rollers and means for driving one of the rollers.
 9. In a combination according to claim 6 wherein said means for advancing a pair of stringer tapes comprises: a. a drive roller; and b. a guide roller disposed adjacent said drive roller and having a pair of spaced circumferential portions defining a fastener element clearance space therebetween.
 10. In a combination according to claim 6 wherein said means for guiding said pair of joined tapes comprises a guide member having means defining a guide channel extending along the direction of advance of said pair of joined tapes and dimensioned to receive the interengaged fastener elements disposed on said tapes to guide the direction of advance of said pair of joined tapes. 